Laos and a Group of Mormons

       Last week I got to be special. My host dad took me on a day long trip to the bordering country of Laos. It was special because it is very hard and complicated for exchange students to travel outside of Thailand once they enter the country with the exception of their return trip back home. But enough with the explanation, on with what I know all want: pictures...

The customs line to get into Laos.

We decided to walk and take public transportation then trying to get the car through customs.

The building behind me is like the Arch du' Triumph in Paris, France (only much bigger).



This is one of the views from the top of the "Arch du' Triumph" building. Behind me is the Laos White House. It houses Loas' government body.



Inside the "Arch du' Triumph" building were many places to buy souvenirs. In fact each level of the building had different stalls.

When I first saw this view it was really strange for me. For you Americans the cars are driving on the right side of the road. But for someone who has been living in Thailand for 3 months these cars are on the wrong side.



After the "Arch du' Triumph" building we went to the most well-known temple in the capital of Laos. I think my host dad is becoming a good photographer because he took most of these pictures, and they turned out really good.



After the temple we went back to the boarder and went to "duty-free" shops. My host dad bought some stuff for friends. Inside one of the shops they had cigarettes for sale, and on almost all of the boxes they warnings such as pictured above. I think America could take notes...

This is a picture of our trip back across the boarder on a public buss. Behind my host dad is the river separating Laos and Thailand, just like the Mississippi separates Illinois and Missouri.

   Now on to the other part of this post's title: A Group of Mormons. One day I was walking through one of the popular hang out spots in my city, and I heard my name called out. I looked around and saw no one that I knew, but then I saw a guy waving at me. He was dressed up in a nice shirt with a tie and had a partner sitting next to him. I went up to them (being my friendly self and all) and found out that they were missionaries sent to Thailand to teach English. After a little more conversation I found out that one of my Thai friends was taking lessons from them, and he had showed them a picture of me. Well I was really intrigued, so I talked to them for a little while, and when we got to our goodbyes they invited me to come play some football (soccer) with them at a nearby university.
    Well the day came and I went to the university, met my Thai friend, and began playing football (soccer) with a whole group of Mormon missionaries. (I thought this might be interesting to people from home seeing as we live so close to Nauvoo, a major religious spot for Mormons).



There were six missionaries all together, but one had to take the picture. My Thai friend is the one with the red sleeves

       Well my next trip is a five kilometer hike up a mountain. Wish me luck.